Campese earns surprise call-up for Australia

Terry Campese, the nephew of the former rugby union wing David, was the most eyecatching inclusion in Australia's World Cup squad that was announced yesterday. Campese, a 24-year-old stand-off who plays for the Canberra Raiders, is the son of David's sister, Lisa. He was heading for a union career himself, having represented Australia's under-16s, and was made an offer to join his uncle in Sydney before signing for the Raiders.

"It's great for him that he's starting to find his feet because obviously having the surname he has, it was going to be difficult for him," David said recently from his home in South Africa.

The younger Campese recalls watching his uncle at every opportunity, attempting to emulate his famous goosestep, and even being the ball boy at his testimonial match. "All I really remember is getting my tracksuit and running out to see the players up close," he said.

"It was awesome. I got to meet all the stars from around the world, like Sean Fitzpatrick and Jonah Lomu, and I remember when Jonah Lomu scored a mad try I ran the tee out to my uncle because he was kicking the goal," he told the Sydney Morning Herald. The squad includes Joel Monaghan, the younger brother of Warrington's scrum-half Michael.

Ireland yesterday named Brett White, a Melbourne prop, in their party - one of six Australians who qualify through their grandparents or, in the case of Wigan's wing Pat Richards, their parents.

Meanwhile, Michael Robertson, the Manly wing who scored a hat-trick in the National Rugby League Grand Final, will today be named in Scotland's squad after predictions that he would be a surprise inclusion for Australia proved wide of the mark.